To create the Students with Unique Needs (SUN) Education Scholarship Account Act and Program; to allow parents to use funds in an education scholarship account to provide an individualized education program for their children.
Impact
Under HB334, the state will deposit into each education scholarship account an amount equivalent to 95 percent of the gross state Foundation Program cost-per-student. This funding model is intended to ensure that families are financially supported in pursuing educational alternatives outside of the public schooling system. The program will initially enroll 500 students in the 2024-2025 school year, expanding by 500 students each subsequent year, contingent on state appropriations. Furthermore, the act mandates that funds may only be utilized for specific qualifying expenses, such as tuition fees, textbooks, and educational services for students with disabilities.
Summary
House Bill 334, known as the Students with Unique Needs (SUN) Education Scholarship Account Act, establishes a program allowing parents of eligible students to utilize funds for individualized education programs. The bill specifically targets students under 19 years of age who have special needs or hardships, such as those with individual education plans (IEPs), children of military parents, foster children, and homeless students. By creating education scholarship accounts, the bill aims to give families greater control over their education choices and resources, providing more flexible options tailored to their children's specific needs.
Contention
Notable points of contention surrounding the bill stem from concerns about the implications of diverting public education funds to private schools and the potential for misuse of funds within the scholarship program. Critics argue that the program's structure may weaken public education by redirecting essential resources and undermine accountability due to the lack of rigorous oversight on private institutions. Additionally, the stipulation that participating parents must commit to not enrolling their children in public schools or charter schools unless for contracted services raises further debates regarding educational equity and access.
Alabama Teacher Paperwork Streamlining Act, State Department of Education required to develop unified digital platform for consolidating and sharing documentation relating to the Alabama Literacy Act, Alabama Numeracy Act, Individualized Education Programs, and other educational programs
Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP), renamed the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA) Program; providing loan assistance in acute educator shortage programs as determined by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in consultation with the State Department of Education
Dual enrollment programs, all local education agencies required to allow student participation in programs offered by two-year and four-year colleges and universities
Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act, providing for a nontraditional high school diploma option for students 17 years of age and older who withdraw from school through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System; to provide for the sharing of data on students who drop out of high school; and to provide that participating students are eligible for driver's licenses